Seat slide structure



Feb. 14, 1950 H. E. NoFz Re- 23,197

SEAT SLIDE STRUCTURE Original Filed May 7, 1945 3 Sh'eetS-Sheet 1 Feb. 14, 1950 H. E. NoFz Re. 23,197

SEAT SLIDE STRUCTURE Original Filed May '7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 42 1 Xqlr/ /1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 14, 1950 H. E. NOFZ Re- 23,197

SEAT SLIDE STRUCTURE .95 25 /Z Q sa ga@ Vw EE. fof

IN VEN TOR.

Reissued Feb. 14, 1950 SEAT SLIDE STRUCTURE Harold E. Nofz, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Na.-

tonal Stamping Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original No. 2,446,241, dated August 3, 1948, Serial No. 592,501, May 7, 1945. Application for reissue October 25, 1949, Serial No. 123,501

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue 9 Claims.

This invention relates to seat slide structures of the type employed for supporting the drivers seat of a motor vehicle for adjustment toward and from the steering wheel of such Vehicle. It has for its principal object the provision of such seat slide structure of sturdy and improved characteristics.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a seat slide structure including a pair of units structionv of the above described type including rollers formed at least in part of non-metallic material; and the provision of a construction above described in which the rollers cooperate with the remaining portion of the structure in a new and novel manner.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in certain new and novel features of construction and comeach of which comprises a pair of parts, one of 1o binations of parts to be hereinafter described which parts is adapted to be secured to the floor with reference to the accompanying drawings, of the vehicle and the other of which is adapted and then claimed, having the above and other to be secured to the seat thereof, such parts each objects in view.

including a vertical plate-like portion arranged In the accompanying drawings which illustrate with its plane of thickness vertical and the platesuitable embodiments of the present invention like portion of each part being in substantial conand in which like numerals refer to like parts tact with that of the other cooperating part, the throughout the several different views,

plate-like portion of one of the parts being lon- Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of the drivers gitudinally slotted and the other of the parts seat of a motor vehicle supported from the oor having pins secured thereto upon which rollers 2o thereof by a seat slide structure embodying the are mounted and received in the slots; the provfeatures of the present invention;

sion of a structure as above described in which Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the the pins carry a plate at their free ends serving right-hand seat slide unit shown in Fig. 1, showto anchor such free ends with respect to each ing the outside face of the same;

other; the provision of a construction as above Fig. 3 is a plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 2; described in Which the plate which connects the Fig. 4 is the perspective View of the unit shown free ends of the pins is arranged to contact the in Figs. 2 and 3 but showing the inner side thereslotted member above and below the rollers to of;

resist the tendency of the pins to bend about their Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the unit points of connection with the first-mentioned 3o shown in the preceding view;

member; and the provision of a construction as Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal above described in which the metal at theupper sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4 and lower edges of the slot in the second member and illustrating the method oi connecting the is bent laterally to provide transversely directed ends of the Bowden wires to the structure; integral fianged portions forming tracks for en- Fig. 'l is a vertical sectional view taken on the gagement with the rollers. line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Other objects of the invention include the pro- Fig. 8 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view vision of a seat slide assembly including a pair of taken transversely of the unit shown in Fig. 4 normally laterally spaced units each embodying as on the line 8-8 thereof;

a track and a slide, together with a pair of Bow- Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the unit den wire assemblies interconnecting them for inshown in the preceding view and illustrating a suring equal and simultaneous movement of both modied form of construction; and,

slides on their respective rails, the Bowden wire Figs. l0 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary secassemblies being readily detachable from and aptional views taken in the same plane as Fig. 8 plicable to the units whereby to permit them to and illustrating modif-led forms of roller strucbe shipped independently of, or at least discontures.

nected from the units and be readily assembled As in conventional types of seat slide structures to the units by the purchaser, this enabling a the device of the present invention includes two relatively small shipping package containing both units, one of which is positioned under each side the units and the Bowden wire assemblies to be of the seat to be shiftably supported and each usedunit comprises a rail structure adapted to be xed Further objects include the provision of a seat to the floor of the vehicle and a cooperating slide slide structure of the general type above described structure adapted to be secured to the seat, the including a novel form of roller construction for two structures being arranged for relative sliding cooperation therewith; the provision of a conmovement with respect to each other longitudi- 3 nally of the vehicle to permit the seat to the correspondingly shifted therewith.

In accordance with the present invention, the rail at-the side of each unit includes a pair of plate-like members arranged with their planes vertical and arranged in substantial contact with each other and slidably interconnected with each other by means of rollers fixed to one thereof and engaged in a slot or slots in the other thereof. In the broader aspects of the invention it makes no difference whether the rollers are secured to the slide or the rail, and Whether it is the rail or the slide which it slotted to receive the rollers, but preferably, and as shown by way of illustration in the drawings, the rollers are carried by the slide and it is the rail that is slotted to receive them.

llurtherniore, it is unimportant as far as the present invention is concerned whether the rail is formed for direct engagement with the floor of the vehicle or whether it is provided with separate supporting means, such as legs or the like, for

supporting it in spaced relation with respect to the noor, the latter construction being shown as preferred in the accompanying drawings and the former construction being shown by Way of modification.

Additionally, it will be appreciated that the rail may be supported from the floor so as to cause the slide and consequently the seat supported byv it to be raised with respect to the floor 'as-the seat is shifted forwardly, or is maintained at a substantially constant distance from the floor during such Shifting movement. The latter construction is shown in the drawings by Way of preference.

In seat slide structures of the type under consideration it is usually preferable to connect the two units which support a seat in such a manner that the slides are caused to move equally in the same direction when the seat is shifted. Although in the broader aspects of the present invention any suitable or conventional means may be provided for this purpose, the particular means shown and which is preferred consists of a Bowden wire structure as broadly disclosed and claifnednn United..A States Letters Patent No.

2,360,805 owned by the assignee of the present invention It will also be understood that the two units 'y employed for supporting the seat are identical to each other except reversed in direction, that is, one is right hand and one is left hand, and except for the fact that one of the units, usually the lefthand unit as viewed looking toward the front of the vehicle, is provided with means for latching the rail and the slide together in slidably adj usted I position. For this reason the lefthand unit only is shown in detail in the drawings, the construction ofthe righthand one being made apparent to those skilled in the art therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings it will be noted thatthe rail 2'comprises an elongated flat metal plate arranged with its plane of thickness vertical and its upper marginal edge is outwardly flanged as at 22 in perpendicular relationship with respect thereto.y In the particular case shown the rail is adapted to be sup orted from the door by means of an angle mem er 26, one flange of which -isadapted to rest in flat contacting relationship 4 and lower edges the rail 2D is longitudinally slotted to provide track means for the rollers carried by the slide and in this connection the rail 20 may be provided with a single elongated slot, but preferably in the interests of rigidity and strength it is provided with two slots 32, each extending from a point adjacent the midpoint of length of the rail 20 toward but short of the corresponding end thereof, the two slots being longitudinally aligned with one another.

In accordance with the present invention a portion of the metal struck out from the plate 20 to form the slots 32 is allowed to remain integrally connected to the plate 2U and is outwardly bent along the upper and lower edges of each slot 32 to provide flanges or tracks 34 directed at right angles to the plane of thickness of the plate 2U. The flanges or tracks 34 are all of the same width and in forming them, after the initial operation of punching out the metal for the slots 32 and bending the rails or flanges 34 outwardly, they are preferably subjected to a coining operation whereby to square up their inner surfaces into flat and exact perpendicularity with respect to the plane of the plate 2D and are preferably simultaneously thickened as best shown in Fig. 8. This results in a roller engaging face for the rails or flanges 34 providing maximum width or contact between them and the cooperating rollers and at the sametime renders the track 34 more rigid and aids in reinforcing the rail 20 against distortion. In coining the flanges or rails 34 the metal is work hardened to a material extent, thus conditioning them to better resist wear occasioned by travel of the rollers thereover and increasing the effective life thereof.

The slide 43 likewise comprises an elongated metal plate member arranged with its plane of thickness vertical and in parallel and in substantially contacting but slidable relationship with respect to the inner face of the rail 2U. Its upper marginal edge is laterally hanged as at 42 to provide a bearing surface for the seat, which is indicated generally at 44, and to which it may be secured as by means of screws or bolts 46. The slide 49 may be of substantially the same length as rail 2B but is preferably somewhat shorter as indicated in the drawings.

At each of two points in the length of `the slide 40, preferably corresponding with the distance between the mid-points of the two slots 32 in the rail 20, a pin 50, best brought out in Fig. 8, is fixed to the slide il@ in perpendicular relation to the plane thereof. The centers of the pins 50 are located at a distance below the ange 42 greater than the distance between the longitudinal center lines of the slots 32 from the flange 22 of the rail 2D. As best brought out in Fig. 8 each pin 5@ is provided with a reduced neck portion 52. which projects through a correspondingly sized hole in the slide 40 and outwardly of the inner face of the slide 4E is headed 03er as at 54 to rigidly fix the pin 50 to the slide 4 Each pin 50 rotatably receives thereon a roller 55. The rollers 56 are of an outside diameter such as to be relatively closely but rotatably conned between the tracks 34 of the corresponding slots 32 but with a minimum clearance between the cooperating tracks, this last feature being in the interest of eliminating possible rattle between the parts due to undesirable relative ver tical movement between the rail and the slide. Preferably, and as brought out in Fig. 8, the pin 50 -at its point of junction lwith the neck 52 is formed to provide an outwardly dared frustoconical surface 58, and the inner end of the bore of the roller56 is formed complementary thereto thus to provide thrust surfaces between the rollers 56 and the pins 50 serving to maintain the inner ends of the rollers 56 out of rubbing conta-ct with the slide 40.

In accordance with the present invention the outer ends of the pins 56 are interconnected by a plate member 60 and while in the broader aspects of the invention the method of securing the plate member l! to the pins 5D is immaterial as long as it is of a rigid nature, in the particular construction shown each pin 50 at its outer end is provided with a concentric cylindrical neck 62 of reduced diameter which is closely received in a hole provided therefor in the plate member 60, and outwardly of the plate member 60 is headed over as at 64 thusI to securely lx the plate member 60 to the pins 5t. The plate member 60 extends above and below the cooperating tracks 34 beyond which it is inwardly bent and then laterally flanged as at 6U to provide flanges having flat inner surfaces substantially contacting the inner face of the rail 2B. Preferably the space between the inner faces of the flanges 66 and the cuter face of the slide 4U is just sufficiently greater than the thickness of the rail 2B to provide running clearance of the rail 2U therebetween. A clearance of from 5 to l/ 1000 of an inch is preferable in this respect. It may also be noted that the length of the rollers 56 is such as to provide a minimum of end clearance between them and the plate 60 commensurate with free turning characteristics of the rollers on the pins 50.

The importance of the plate member 60 is that in constructions of the character shown if the outer ends of the pins E4 are not braced in some manner the pins will tend to bend about their point of connection with the slide when a load is applied thereto and because of the clearance necessarily required between the rollers 5E and the tracks 34 or their equivalent such bending will result in point contact between the rollers and the opposite sides of the slot or track and may cause the rollers to jam in the slots, and in any event to foster early destruction of the rollers and the track forming members. The plate member 6U not only anchors the free ends of the pins 56 together, which in itself aids in rigidifying the same, but in being provided with the flanges 66 which lie in substantially contacting relationship with respect to the rail 2G, any tendency of the pins to bend at their points of connection with the slide 40 is resisted by engagement of at least one of the flanges 66 with the rail 20. The flanges 66 in bearing against the rail 20 at a distance from the centers of the pins 5l] much greater than the radius of the rollers 56, and being normally closely spaced from the rail, will contact the rail 20 upon yielding of the pins 5B before the rollers 56 cock enough to jam between the tracks 34. As a result. with the construction shown and described the plate member 66 serves in the nature of an outboard support for the outer ends of the pins 50, aids in maintaining line contact between the rollers 56 and the track 34 with all of the attendant advantages in operation, and positively precludes jamming of the rollers 56 in the slots 32 under all conditions.

As previously explained the lefthand unit of the seat slide, namely that one shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, is provided with latch means for releasably latching the slide in Cil longitudinally adjustable position on the rail. In the case shown this latch mechanism comprises an angle bracket 10 having one flange thereof fixed in flat contacting relationship with respect to the lower face of the flange 42 at the upper edge of the slide 4U and its remaining flange projecting downwardly in parallel relation with respect to the body of the slide 4D and in outwardly spaced relation with respect thereto. A latch member 12 is pivotally connected to the downwardly extending leg of the bracket 1U by means of a pin 14.

The latch member 12 is formed from a flat piece cf metal and its rear end is bent inwardly as at 16 so as to project inwardly beyond the outer free edge of the flange 22 on the rail 2i). Such flange 22, as best brought out in Fig. 2, is provided With a plurality of notches 18 therein arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other longitudinally of the flange 22, the notches 18 each being of a sufficient width and depth to receive the inwardly bent end 16 of the latch member 12 therein. A coil spring 88 maintained under tension between an ear 82 formed on the latch member 12 below the pin 14, and an outwardly struck ear 84 provided on the plate member '60, constantly urges the latch member 12 toward operative engagement with the flange 22. Pivotal movement of the latch member 12 in this direction may be limited by contact with the latch member 12 with the lower surface of the seat 44 or by any other suitable means.

The forward end of the latch member 12 is formed to provide an outwardly projecting thumbpiece 86 by means of which the operator may draw such end upwardly against the force of the spring and release the inwardly bent end 16 of the latch member 12 from engagement with a cooperating notch 18, thereby releasing the slide for movement longitudinally of the rail. When the desired slidable position is reached, release of pressure on the end 86 of the latch member 12 will permit the spring 80 to project the end 16 of the latch member 12 into the next notch 'ES brought into alignment therewith, thereby to latch the slide to the rail in its longitudinally adjusted position.

As previously explained, while any suitable or conventional type of means may be employed between the two units of the seat slide structure described for insuring equal and simultaneous movement of both slide members when the seat 1s shifted, the means illustrated in the drawings is essentially that disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,360,805. In other words it comprises a pair of Bowden wire assemblies, one of which is indicated at A and the other of which is indicated at B. Each Bowden wire assembly includes a flexible wire 90 enclosed in a tubular ilexible casing 49i?, the wires 90 being longer than the corresponding casings 92 so as to project beyond the ends of the latter.

One end of the casing 92 for the Bowden wire assembly A is clamped to the slide 46 of the lefthand unit (as viewed from the drivers seat), and as best brought out in Fig. 4 in parallel relation with respect to the direction of slidable movement of the slide 46 on the rail 26, and in rearwardly spaced relation with respect to the forward end of the slide 40. The cooperating wire 9G is extended forwardly therefrom and is anchored to the forward end of the corresponding rail 2li. The opposite end of the casing 92 of the Bowden wire assembly A is Vclamped to the other lslide 4U in a rearwardly facing direction' eater and the corresponding end'of the :corresponding wire BIJLiSanchored to therear end of the corresponding rail 20. Similarly the rear end of 'the casing 92 of the Bowden wire assembly B is direction, and its corresponding wire 9D is anchored to the rear end of the corresponding rail 2U. Similarly, the forward endof the casing 92 of the Bowden wire lassembly B is anchored to the opposite slide 49 in the same manner as shown for the forward end of the .casing for the Bowden Wire assembly A of Fig. 4.

It will be appreciated that by interconnecting the two seat slide units by the Bowden wire assemblies A'and ,B in the manner described, when the latch 'I2 'is released and one slide 40 is moved on its corresponding rail 2D the corresponding ends of the Bowden Wire casings 92 are shifted simultaneously therewith and relative to the 'enclosed wires 90 mentioned. Ii, for instance, one of the slides 4D is moved forwardly, as for instance the slide-shown in Fig. 4, the casing 92 lfor the Bowden wire assembly B will be slid along its corresponding wire 90, and its opposite end, in

moving forwardly, will cause the opposite slide 40 to move forwardly therewith. Similarly the casing 92 for the Bowden Wire A, in moving for- Wardly on its wire 9U, will draw its opposite end forwardly on the corresponding wire 99 and act in the same manner to move the opposite slide 49 in the same direction and for an equivalent dis* tance. Two such Bowden wire assemblies are .preferably employed for the reason that the type of Bowden wire assembly employed is one in which the casing 92 is formed as a closely wound coil capable of taking compression through it but incapable of taking a material amount of pull. In such case by employing two Bowden wire assemblies positive movement between the two slides 40 is always insured through axial compressive stresses transmitted through one of the casings 90, regardless of the direction of lmovement of the slides.

In the particular case shown in the drawings by way of illustration, veach casing 92 of the Bowden wire assemblies A and .B secured to its corresponding slide 4i) by a bracket indicated generally at 9. Each bracket is formed from a flat sheet of metal which is slit in parallel Land spaced relation from' one edge thereof toward the opposite edge thereof, and theportion `between the slits is bent into perpendicular relationship with respect to the plane of the plate to form an ear 96. The edge of the plate opposite that edge f from which the above described slits are extended is then bent up into parallel and spaced relationship with respect to the ear 96. The lears 96 and 98Vare spaced from one another by approximately the diameter of the casing 92 and an end of one of the casings 92 is received between the ears 96 and 98 of each bracket 94. A screw |90 is projected through the ears 96 and 98 outwardly of the lend of the casing 92 received therein and cooperates with a nut |92 to draw ears 96 and 98 towards each other, thus to securely clamp the cooperating end of the casing 92 therebetween. Of course, and as illustrated in the drawings, the brackets 94 are suitably fixed to `the slides 40, as by spot'welding or the like, and in such position that the planes of the ears 96 and 9B are parallel to the direction of movement of the slides 40 on the rail 20, the two legs provided on the bracket by .bending the tongue .9B from between rthem be- .ing arranged vin flat contacting lrelationship with .ing end 4of 'the corresponding .rail y2li.

8 respect to v'the linner ,face of the rcorresponding rail, `and the ears l:96 and i98 .projecting perpendicularly .outwardly therefrom.

In order to anchor the ends of V'the Wires 90 .to `'the correspondingends of therails 20 brackets IIE) are provided. As perhaps best brought out in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 each ybracket IIn is .formed of sheet metal into an L-sectioned shape. .At .one -end each bracket I I0 is provided with an extended ear I.I2 which is 'hooked Aaround the correspond- As best shown in Fig. 6 'the ends of the rails 29 are notched to receive the ears I-.I2 vto aid in holding .the corresponding brackets II-U in position. An extended end or ear H4 at the opposite end of each bracket l Ill-is bent inwardly and is projected through vra corresponding hole formed for reccp tion of same in .thecorresponding rail 20, as also best brought out in Fig. 6,to further aid in holding the brackets IDG in position on the rails.

The outwardly projecting flange of each bracket I Ill is provided, yatspaced intervals in the length thereof vand between its inner and outer edges, with a plurality of transverseslits H6, and the metal between alternate pairs of-slits IIS is bent upwardly and downwardly to form alternately oppositely directed straps IIB, between which the ends of the corresponding wire 99 is projected. Then, asbrought out in Fig. 7, the straps I I8 on opposite sides of the wire .are displaced toward one another so as to bend the wire lEllinto interlooking relation with respect thereto. Preferably a screw lsuch as |29 is :projected through each bracket H0 and threaded into the corresponding rail 20 to aid the ears Is|=2 and IM in removably securing the brackets IIU in place on the Nrails With the described method of securing the Bowden wire assemblies to the seat .slide unit it is possible to ship the unit to the customer with the Bowdenwire vassemblies separate there'- from `and with the brackets `I IG fixed to the ends of the Wires 99. The customer may then simply insert the ends of the casings 92 of the Bowden wire assemblies A and B in their proper positions and relation in the brackets -94 and slip the brackets -I ill over the corresponding ends of the ycorresponding rails 20 and by simply inserting and tightening up the screws |00 and vI 20 operatively connect an associated pair of yseat slide units together. By this means fa considerable amount of space is saved in shipping.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of the construction is shown. In this figure parts identical to the parts of the structure previously described are indicated by the same numerals, and the parts which have been changed and which correspond to the parts above described are indicated .by the same numerals but bearing .a sub-letter a. Accordingly, a description of the changed parts will rsuflice, in view of the above description, to fully describe the modified construction. In this `case the rail 20a and part 24a, are formed integrally with each other and from a single sheet fof metal. The plate member 99a instead of having side fianges such vast in the first -described constructionvextending the full length thereof, in this case has shortened .fianges 66a at each end .thereof and extending a short distance on both sides of the ycorresponding rollers -55 to Yserve Athe same purpose as the fianges 66 -in lthe .first described construction. Some saving in weight andrmetalmay be effected by such modification.

In Figs. .10.and 1l modified roller `structuresare shown, each of which 4embodies a non-metallic part and which may therefore be less noisy in operation, particularly in worn condition. Inasmuch as the only difference in the construction shown in Figs. l and l1 is in connection with the rollers themselves and the supporting pins therefor, only these changes will be described, the remainder of the structure already being understood.

In Fig. 10 the roller, indicated generally at 56h, comprises an annular body |30 of a suitable type of hard wood, such as lignum vitae, which has preferably been impregnated with a suitable lubricant. It is surrounded by a ring |32 of metal, such as steel, bronze, or the like preferably pressed thereon. The shouldered pin 50h which supports the roller 56h is of somewhat similar construction to the pin 50 first described except that it is smaller in diameter and is not provided with a shoulder corresponding to the shoulder 58, but it is secured to the slide 40 and to the plate member GU in a similar manner. The roller 56h is, of course, equivalent to the roller G first described in diameter and in axial extent.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 11 the roller 56e which is equivalent in diameter and axial extent to the roller 56 first described comprises an annular body |40 of rubber or the like encircled by a metallic ring |42 and lined with a bearing liner |44, the latter preferably being of the porous sintered metal type which has been impregnated with a suitable lubricant. Preferably the ring M2 and liner |44 are vulcanized to the body 40 or otherwise suitably fixed thereto. The pin 50c may be substantially identical to the pin 50h above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a supporting unit comprising a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising an elongated substantially flat sheet metal portion arranged with its plane of thickness vertical and said portions being arranged in slidable but substantially contacting relation with respect to each other, one of said members having longitudinally extending slot means formed therein, the metal of said member along the upper and lower edges of said slot means being bent out of the plane of said member whereby to provide a track means of greater width than the thickness of said member, the other of said members having pins fixed thereto and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, and rollers received on each of said pins within said slot means and in supported relation with respect to said track means, and outboard support means carried by the pins and engageable with said slotted member to hold said rollers aligned properly in the track means.

2. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a supporting unit comprising a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising an elongated substantially flat sheet metal portion arranged with its plane thickness vertical and said portions being arranged inslidable but substantially contacting relation with respect to each other, one of said members having longitudinally extending slot means formed therein, the metal of said member along the upper and lower edges of said slot means being bent out of the plane of said member whereby to provide a track means of greater width than the thickness of said member and of greater thickness than the thickness of said member, the other of said members having pins xed thereto and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, and rollers received on each of said l1'0 pins within said slot means and in supported relation with respect to said track means, and outboard support means on the distal ends of the pins engageable with said slotted member to prevent cocking of the pins and jamming of said rollers.

3. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a supporting unit comprising a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising an elongated substantially flat sheet metal portion arranged with its plane of thickness vertical and said portions being arranged in slidable but substantially contacting relation with respect to each other, one of said members having longitudinally extending slot means formed therein, the metal of said member along the upper and lower edges of said slot means being bent out of the plane of said member whereby to provide a track means [of greater width and hardness than said member and of greater thickness and the thickness of] of greater width than the thickness of said member and of greater thickness and hardness than said member, the other of said members having pins fixed thereto and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, and rollers received on each of said pins withinsaid slot means and in supported relation with respect to said track means, and an outboard support fastened to the projecting distal ends of said pins holding the latter xed with respect to each other and having portions disposed substantially in contacting relationship with said slotted member to prevent cocking of the pins and jamming of said rollers.

4. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising elongated flat sheet metal portions arranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantial contact with each other, one of said members being provided with slot means extending longitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to the other of said members with their axes perpendicular to the plane of said portion thereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on said pins within said slot means, and a plate member fixed to and interconnecting the free ends of said pins.

5. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising elongated hat sheet metal portions arranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantial contact with each other, one of said members being provided with slot means extending longitudinally thereof, pins xed with respect to the other of said members with their axes perpendicular to the plane of said portion thereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on said pins within said slot means,

a plate member fixed to and interconnecting the free ends of said pins, and marginal portions on said plate member positioned for operative engagement with the first-mentioned member above said slot means therein.

6. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising elongated flat sheet metal portions arranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantial contact with each other, one of said members being provided with slot means extending longitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to the other of said members with their axes perpendicular to the plane of said portion thereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on said pins within said slot means, a plate member fixed to and interconnecting the free ends of said pins, and marginal portions on 11 said plate member arranged in substantial engagement with the mst-mentioned member above and below said track means and serving to resist bending of said pins with respect to said secondmentioned member.

7. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a slide member, said members each comprising elongated ilat sheet metal portions arranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantial contact with each other,

one of said members being provided with slotl means extending longitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to the other of said members with their axes penpendicular to the plane of said portion thereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on said pins Within said slot means, a plate member fixed to and interconnecting the free ends of said pins, and marginal ilanges on said plate member extending into substantially flat engaging relationship with respect to the body of the first-mentioned member above and below said track means thereon.

8. In a seat slide structure, a rail and a slide having vertical overlapping portions, one of said portions provided with slot means, horizontal pins carried by the other of said portions and eX- tending through said slot means, rollers on the pins and Within said slot means, and outboard support means carried by the pins and engagel2 able with said slotted portion to prevent the pins from cooking and the rollers from jamming in said slot means.

9. In a seat slide structure, independently movable rail and slide members having vertical overlapping portions, one of said portions provided with longitudinal slot means, pins carried by the other of said portions extending through said slot means, rollers on said pins adapted to travel in said slot means, and an outboard support fastened to and connecting the distal ends of said pins whereby to hold the latter xed with respect to each other and having portions disposed substantially in contacting relationship with the slotted member whereby to prevent cooking of the pins and jamming of the rollers in said slot means.

HAROLD E. NOFZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,735,518 Von Valkenburg et al. Nov. 12, 1929 2,240,143 Lustig Apr. 29, 1941 2,272,535 Votypka Feb. 10, 1942 2,360,805 Thoma Oct. 17, 1944 

